I'm baaaaaaaaaaack!

Hello, lovely people in blog-land. It's been a while, I know. I'm just like that--when things get stressful for me, or when I'm processing new info, I clock out for a while. I shave off all the extraneous activities and calendar items, and I conserve my time and energy to focus on the higher prioity things.

So, here's an update:

• I became an independent consultant for Thirty-One Gifts, and I absolutely LOVE IT. I'm spending my days talking to old (and new) friends, and I'm spending my evenings partying with them and showing off awesome products to their friends. I feel like I have a social life again! Not to mention the company is incredible. It's based on Christian values, and the support and training is unbelievable. I have made such a perfect decision in signing up with Thirty-One!!!! I have goals to work towards again. I have a purpose! And the best part? I'm exceeding all my goals. I am so excited for the professional fulfillment I'm getting. I guess I was really in need of something that was 100% mine and could give me the confidence boost I so needed in my year-long journey of a terrible job market and financial hardship. If I could make a full-time career of this (and I think that's becoming a goal), I would be forever happy with my line of "work"!
• My Kimmy Jarae is 18 months old! She has been a fountain of new vocabulary lately--talking all the time. I adore her. She is so bright, and she is growing beautifully. She had her 18-month check-up a few days ago, and she's proportionally the average height (34.5 inches) and weight (28 lbs.) of a 25-month-old!!!!! She is going to be one TALL girl!
• My Papaw Jim passed away. It was pretty rough on our family, and there are still some things to work out with the estate. I was so glad to get to go home for the funeral. I saw Kevin and my brother and sister Cody and Rachel, whom I hadn't seen in a very long time. Miss Kimmy also got to see her Aunt Kim's grave. It was a very emotionally fulfilling trip, although it was physically exhausting to drive 8 hours with a toddler 2 days in a row. My girl handled it like a champ! She is SUCH a good baby. I always tell her to "be patient, be patient," but, really, she IS patient--MUCH more patient than most 18-month-olds--it's just me who isn't.

All is well. We're getting there financially. It's going to be a process digging ourselves out and getting in the black, but it will happen. I just know it!

Weird-i-versaries are coming up (I say that because it's always been interesting to me that these 2 major life events happened on consecutive days, although different years): the 10-year anniversary of Kim's death is on Monday, March 3, and Jarrell's and my 6-year dating anniversary is coming up on Tuesday, March 4. Hard to believe how fast time flies!

I'm going to try to incorporate blogging back into my life. I do miss writing and having a place to organize my brain. Hold me to it, people!

Fun links: http://mythirtyone.com/kelseypierce; http://facebook.com/thirtyfunwithkelsey.

More later (I hope!),

-Kels

Influenster product review: Venus Embrace Sensitive

I hope this is the first of many product reviews for Influenser! If you have no clue what Influenster.com is, here's the rundown. You create an account and do surveys and polls to indicate your interests. Doing this helps you earn badges. Based on your badges, you are selected for free, full-size samples of products to review. You keep everything they send you, absolutely FREE. Interested? Let me know by comment, and I'll send you an invite to join!

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On Tuesday, January 14, I got a full-size Venus Embrace Sensitive razor with a shower hook and an extra cartridge. I paid nothing. This product hasn't even hit shelves yet--you literally can't buy it. It feels really cool to be able to use and review a product before it is publicly released. I feel like such an insider!

So, let me give you a little background on my experience with Venus razors. I used to own one, you know, when they first came out in my pre-teenager-dom. The shower hook sucked, and my razor was somehow always getting knocked in the trash can. I ended up buying a few across a year or so because they always needed replacing from being accidentally thrown away, but I eventually got tired of paying for a new razor all the time and decided to start using disposables.

I've been using BIC Soleil disposable razors with either 3 (regular Soleil) or 4 (Soleil Bella) blades for the last 5 years or so. The shave is okay. The heads on these razors are pretty stationary, so they don't move all that well with the contours of your skin. I've found that the blades dull quickly, and I usually get red irritated bumps right after shaving with Soleil. I also have to shave my underarms every other day and my legs every 5 days. But, with the coupons that company runs, I can usually get them for next to nothing, so that's my motivation.

So, I decided I'd test this bad boy out. I took a long, steamy shower on Tuesday. I lathered up with some Skintimate shave gel, shaved my legs and underarms, and let me tell you, it's the closest shave I've had in about 10 years. I'm not kidding. I didn't get any irritation. No burning, nothing. I wanted to wait a few days to review because I wanted to see how my hair started growing back in. It's been COLD in Bloomington, too, so I've had chill bumps a lot. That always seems to make my hair grow faster. Honestly, though, I don't think I will need to shave my underarms until at least Sunday and my legs until like Wednesday.

Let's compare:
BIC Soleil
underarms every 2 days
legs every 5 days

Venus Embrace Sensitive
underarms every 5 days
legs every 8 days

That's a pretty drastic improvement!

Other things I loved: the pivoting head, which really follows your skin. I feel like with other razors' inflexibility, I'm always forced to press too hard to get a good angle, which ends up irritating my skin more. Also, the rubber handle--totally nonslip. I didn't drop that thing a single time, and we all know how slippery shaving cream makes things.

There were definitely a few cons, too, though. I was absolutely terrified of cutting myself with this razor. It has 5 blades. SHARP blades. I don't want to find out what a cut from this thing feels like. There is no plastic cover for the blades when the razor's not in use. I'm kind of scared to hang it in the shower because I don't want it to fall and cut my bathing toddler. On that same note, the shower hook seems to only stay suctioned to the wall when the shower's wet. It has already fallen off twice since Tuesday. I think I'll keep it in my shower caddy instead. I also noticed that, while it was great that the shaved hair sat on top of the razor and didn't get down in it and clog it up, I had to rinse it off more frequently while I was shaving.

One con I can't specify yet, since this product isn't sold, is price. I'm poor. I don't have the money to buy razor refills at $15 a pop (just a guess, based on current Venus pricing) for 4 cartridges. Unless P&G runs some awesome coupons, I don't foresee myself being able to use this razor regularly. I have a decent stockpile of coupon-bought BICs, which I will probably continue to use on a regular basis for the most part. Maybe I'll just use my Venus for strapless and bare-legged occasions, until I find a better means of affordability for the refill cartridges.

Overall review: highly recommend. Look for coupons to improve affordability. Store in a safe location to prevent accidental cuts.

#ItsNotMe -- it's my razor. #VenusEmbraceSensitive #VoxBox #Influenster

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Modern amenities and thankfulness

In response to the recent water crisis surrounding many of my family and friends back home in WV, I wanted to write about being thankful for modern amenities.

On a typical day, I use my cell phone, car, heat or A/C, fan, lamps and overhead lights, computer, printer, washer, dryer, shower, sink, toilet, straightener or blow dryer, TV, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, oven, stove, and so much more. I usually don't give a second thought to any of it--I just use all these things blindly.

Oh, and let's not forget about modern medicine! I don't know how I would survive without my Zyrtec and Flonase.

It's hard to imagine a time where none of this stuff worked as quickly and easily, much less a time where none of it even existed. It's harder still to realize that there are lots of countries and cultures around the world who know these things exist, but have no access or means of affordability for using them.

In a world where we so often take for granted even the most basic things like clean, running water and using an actual toilet, instead of a pit in the dirt, it's not a stretch to see how we are also lacking in the category of thankfulness.

I want to make an effort to be more humble and thankful for the simple things in life that make everyday survival easy, and I challenge you to do the same. If you're reading this, you are blessed. Even at rock bottom, you probably have access to more modern amenities than millions of other people on this planet.

Food for thought.

More later.

-Kels

Kitchen essentials, part 3--fridge and freezer foods

Here's my final list!

Essential Fridge and Freezer Foods:

• celery
• carrots
• lettuce
• spinach
• oranges/tangerines
• apples
• berries or grapes
• whatever other fruits or vegetables we've bought for specific dishes
• milk (skim and 2% or whole)
• 3-5 types of cheese (cheddar, colby jack, monterey jack, parmesan, etc.)
• buttermilk
• butter
• pre-packaged minced garlic (so easy)
• typical condiments
• eggs
• yogurt
• bacon or sausage
• ground beef
• chicken (whole, parts, breasts, etc.)--we've been really into chicken leg quarters lately because they're cheap
• water (we love cold water from our Brita pitcher)
• iced tea and coffee
• ice
• frozen vegetables (green beans, peas, corn, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.)
• white wine
• beer
• vanilla ice cream
• wonton and/or eggroll wrappers
• cheese ravioli

We tend to keep the above items as staples and shop around that according to what we need for a certain meal we plan to make. I like to keep a decent amount of frozen produce because 1. it's cheap and 2. it doesn't go bad as quickly. I hate wasting food, so if I can save myself from that fate, I go for it! Plus, frozen vegetables are usually really fresh-tasting and have much more intact nutrients than canned.

Enjoy! :)

Kitchen essentials, part 2--pantry foods

I try to keep a well-stocked pantry, but I'm sure I have room for improvement. I'm always up for trying new ingredients and new dishes, so any input is welcome.

Essential Pantry Foods:

• lots of canned tomato sauce, paste, and diced tomatoes
• onions
• potatoes
• cream of mushroom, celery, and chicken soups
• spaghetti or linguine
• penne or ziti
• shells or macaroni
• 3-5 varieties of rice--minute rice, brown, white, Arborio (ideal for risotto), basmati (ideal for Asian food), wild, etc.
• raisins
• saltine crackers
• breadcrumbs
• popcorn
• tea
• coffee
• sugar
• all-purpose flour
• self-rising flour
• cornmeal
• brown sugar
• peanut butter
• vinegar
• olive oil
• vegetable or canola oil
• nonstick cooking spray
• salt
• pepper
• baking soda
• baking powder
• cocoa powder
• confectioner's sugar
• cake flour
• Crisco
• vanilla extract
• chocolate chips
• cinnamon
• ginger
• nutmeg
• cloves
• paprika
• basil
• oregano
• cumin
• ground mustard
• coriander
• bay leaves
• garlic powder
• celery seed
• Old Bay seasoning
• cayenne
• chili powder
• onion powder
• dill
• crushed red pepper
• thyme
• rosemary
• allspice
• chives
• parsley
• chives
• chicken and beef bouillon
• Worcestershire sauce
• soy sauce
• ketchup
• mayonnaise
• mustard
• syrup
• honey
• salad dressings
• hot sauce
• Tabasco sauce
• pancake mix or Bisquick
• pre-packaged sides (cheesy broccoli rice, shells and cheese, couscous, etc.)
• canned tuna, salmon, or chicken
• 2-3 varieties of beans--black, navy, kidney, pinto, etc.
• lentils
• applesauce
• oatmeal
• Cream of Wheat
• 3-5 varieties of cold cereal
• granola bars
• animal crackers
• fruit snacks
• yeast
• taco shells and/or tortillas
• taco seasoning
• chili seasoning
• salsa

Kitchen essentials, part 1--gadgets

A few of my friends have asked me to share the items I keep in my pantry at all times. Great idea, I say! I love reading lists like this because they inspire me to try new things and help broaden my spectrum of potential dishes that can be made on a whim. Since there's a lot of stuff in my kitchen, I'm going to break it up into several posts:

Part 1: gadgets
Part 2: pantry foods
Part 3: fridge and freezer foods


This is by no means exclusive; these are just my most-used items that I wouldn't want to be without. As you'll see, I like things in 2s. It's nice to have a back-up, sure, but I frequently use the items in 2s simultaneously, especially for big holiday meals.

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Essential Kitchen Gadgets:

• 2 large skillets--one nonstick and one regular
• 2 medium skillets--one nonstick and one regular
• small nonstick skillet
• stock pot with lid
• 2 large pots with lids
• 2 medium pots with lids
• medium double boiler with lid
• 3 baking sheets--small, medium, large
• 2 cookie baking sheets with center air insulation (Baker's Secret brand is my preference)
• 2 loaf pans
• 2 muffin tins (12 + 6 or two 12s)
• 2 pie pans (glass or metal)
• a 10-piece set of French White (it's classic!) Corningware casseroles, ramekins, and lids
• 2 9x13 pans
• 2 sets of mixing bowls (we have one plastic and one metal)
• salad bowl
• large serving platter
• salad spinner
• large roasting pan with rack
• 3 cooling racks
• 5 or so serving spoons (slotted and regular)
• enough dinner and dessert plates, bowls, glasses, forks, spoons, and knives to serve 8 people
• 2 rubber spatulas
• wide plastic spatula (my fave for pancakes)
• 3 metal spatulas (1 slotted)
• pie server
• 3 whisks
• hand mixer or stand mixer
• spaghetti spoon
• ladle
• 3 big metal spoons (1 slotted)
• Crock Pot (I love my 6-qt. auto-timer Crock!)
• 3 glass measuring cups (1-, 2-, and 4-cup)
• metal measuring spoons
• metal dry-ingredient measuring cups
• lots of food-storage containers
• garlic press
• apple slicer
• boiled egg slicer
• waffle maker
• hand or stand mixer
• toaster
• coffee maker
• 2 pitchers (we use one for iced tea and one for iced coffee)
• ingredient prep bowls (Kitchen-Aid sells a nice set of 4 with lids)
• sifter
• strainer
• basting brush
• 2 pot holders
• oven mitt
• 2 trivets
• electric can opener
• 10-piece (minimum) knife set
• 3 cutting boards (1 large for cutting lots of veggies at once, 1 for meat, 1 for miscellaneous other uses)
• colander
• ice-cube bin
• Crock Pot liners
• foil
• various sizes of Ziplocs
• Saran wrap
• parchment paper
• wax paper

If you're into alphabetizing, sorry--I probably just cranked up your anxiety with this random-order list. Anyway, there it is! What other essential gadgets do you have?

My biggest weakness as a mom

I'm a pretty realistic and self-aware person, so I think it goes without saying that I am under no delusions when it comes to being a mom. I am well aware that I'm not perfect. I have many areas that I am continually working to improve upon, but it seems that my biggest weakness in life--impatience--is always bleeding over into my role as a parent and putting me in my place.

Yesterday afternoon around 3:00pm, Kimmy was down for a nap. Jarrell had just dozed off, so I thought I would also try to take a nap. It had been a long week, and I was exhausted.

No sooner had I drifted off than I was awakened by Kimmy fussing and crying in her room. I assumed the usual--that she was either fussy from having 3 molars coming in at once or that she had thrown all her stuffed animals out of the crib and wanted them back.

I half-thought about letting her be for 10 minutes or so to see if she would settle back down, but then the tiny voice of patience and reason in my head told me to get my sleepy self up and check on her. 2 minutes later, I got up to go see.

When I got to her crib, I saw vomit all over her sheet, her blanket, and her shirt.

Instant guilt.

I totally took for granted that she rarely cries, and when she does, she genuinely needs assistance or attention the majority of the time. In my sleepy haze, I almost ignored her needs. Guilt doesn't get much heavier than that for me, especially since she very rarely pukes and is terrified of the process.

She seems to think she is going to be in trouble for vomiting. As soon as she makes eye contact after throwing up, she starts sobbing and puts her head down in shame. I honestly don't know how she came up with that behavior. I puked so much in my childhood that I have an extreme amount of empathy for the situation and would never dream of shaming her for it.

So, I got her sheets, diaper, and clothes changed. I comforted her. I started on her laundry. She eventually cheered up, even though she remained nauseous and pukey the rest of the evening, poor thing.

The moral of the story: my impatience for Kimmy's crying and waking me up almost cost me a crucial opportunity to fulfill my daughter's need for comfort. If I didn't make a constant effort to be patient with her, it could seriously hurt the trust she has built in me.

She is still very little, and so much is still brand new to her. It's my job as her mommy to hang back and let her experience the world at her pace because that's the only way she can build her own understanding of things. If I never let her fall and rush through life taking the reins for her, she won't have the chance to make the mental connections that are so important in the toddler years.

I wish I knew the source for this, but I want to share a poem that always helps ground me when I'm having a hard time achieving the above:

Give me patience when little hands

Tug at me with ceaseless, small demands.

Give me gentle words and smiling eyes

To keep my lips from hasty, sharp replies.

Let not fatigue, confusion, or noise

Obscure my vision of life's fleeting joys,

So when in years to come, my house is still,

Beautiful memories its rooms may fill.

More later.

-Kels